Guyana: First blood bank for region 3 costing $30M commissioned

The Guyana Minister of Health, Dr Frank Anthony, officially commissioned the first Blood Bank for Region Three (Essequibo Islands-West Demerara) at the West Demerara Regional Hospital on Tuesday. The new $30 Million investment is expected to be fully equipped and functional in a period of one month.

It will subsequently reduce the hassle faced by the Region to acquire blood and blood products to treat and care for patients in the hospital who may be in need of transfusions.

The implementation will also reduce the strains on the blood bank located in Region Four since Region Three will be equipped to carry out the necessary procedures with their own blood supply.

Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony, during his remarks, said that while the blood collection aspect will be great for the Region, it is only one of the major benefits that will be derived from the blood bank established in the Region.

He explained that since Region Three will be doing its own blood screening and pathogen testing of prospective donors, health officials will be able to detect cases of infections such as Hepatitis C in the Region and therefore treat and cure these persons.

Also attending the opening ceremony were Regional Health Officer (RHO), Dr Erica Forte, Director of the National Blood Transfusion Service (NBTS), Dr Pedro Lewis and Regional Executive Officer (REO) Jagnarine Somwar.